Wire-loop-bending machine



June 17, 1930. G. H. GEBHARDT 1,765,228

WIRE LOOP BENDING MACHINE Filed Jan. l1, 1929 15 Sheets-Sheet l June 17, 1930. G, H GEBHARDT 1,765,228

WIRE LOOP BENDING MACHINE June 17, 1930. v l G H, GEBHARDT 1,765,228

` WIRE Loop BENDING MACHINE Fi1ed Jan. 11, 1929 15 sheets-sheet 3 .lune 1-7, 1930. G. H. Gr-:BHARDT WIRE LOOP BENDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 11, '1929 15`sneetS-sneet 4 /Z lg 4 /25 4 /z /27 June 17, 1930. G, H GEBHARDT 1,765,228

WIRE'LooP BENDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 1l, 1929 l5 Sheets-Sheet 5 9 I-Iw@ Y June 17, 1930. Q H GEBHARDT 1,765,228

WIRE LOOP BENDING MACHINE Filed Jan, 11, 1929 15 sheets-sheet 6 3 a, 7 /zz /7 /ZZa vJune 1.7, 1930, G `H GEBHARDT 1,765,228

WIRE LOOP BENDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 11, 1929 l5 Sheets-Sheet '7 v f/wnialff Y f @Zay/wwwa; @h6/wages.

June 17, l1930.

G. H. GEBHARDT WIRE yLOOP BENDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 11, 1929 15 sheets-s116918' mi. h

June 17, 1930.V G. H. GEBHARDT d an. 1l. 1929 A1.5 Sheets-Sheet 9 June 17, 1930. G. H. GEBHARDT WIRE LOOP BENDING MACHINE 15 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Jan. 11, 1929 rugs une 17, 1930. G H, GEBHAR-DT' `1,765,228 I WIRE LOOP BENDIG MACHINE Filed Jamv 1,1, 1929 15 Sheets-Sheet 1l June 17, 1930. H GEBHARDT 1,765,228

WIRE LOOP BENDING MACHINE Fiied Jan. 11, 1929 15 sheets-'sheet 12 fig. Z4.

. [Men/1572 f-fy ma l i June 17, 1930. Q H, GEBHARDT 1,765,228

WIRE LOOP BENDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 1l, 1929 15 Shets-Sheet 15 .lune 17, 1930.

G. H. GEBHARDT Filed Jan. 1.1, 1929 15 sheets-sheet 14 Q n x www \N rma June 17, 1930.

G'. H. GEBHARDT WIRE LOOP yBENDING MACHINEv 15 Sheets-Sheet. 15

Filed Jan. 11, 1929 JM fw,

Patented June 17, 1930 nire j star e SCHWARTZ. niccRPoaArrr, 'Tron or PENNSYLVANIA www W-TBEiIOOPf-BENDING ,MACHINE Application filed January l11, 1929. Serial No; 331,856.

This vinvention relates to a machine for bending or twisting wire loops fromthe plane in ywhich they are originally formed to a.'plane'substantially at right angles thereto.

The machine forming the subject of my invention is particularly adapted for the twistyingof loops formed at spaced intervals along the selvage edgesof wire mesh screen.

The wire mesh screen in this'particularinstance/is woven in a strip; which is subsei quently cut into units otra predetermined size, after which the .units are suitably attached ,one to another to forman endless belt or conveyer adapted it'or` use in drying and other types-ot' apparatus.

Gonveyers of this type usually comprise a paii` of spaced chains between which the units ot wireniesh screen are placed. Each .of the `side chains consists ofa plurality of pivotand adj acently posially connected links,

the conveyer are pivtioiied screen units of `V otally connected together along theiry adjoinunits being ing edges and in axial alignment with the chain pintes. f y v VIn placing the wire mesh units in position on' the side links the .selvage edges of each unit are positioned transversely of the conveyer, the non-selvage edges .ofthe respective placed in suitable grooves formed Y in the inner sides ofthe respectivev side links and secured therein in any'suitable manner.

In weaving the wire mesh screen the loops are'forined at the selvage edges of the screen by a continuous weft 4wire beingpassed back and toi-th across the longitudinal or warp the selvage loops thus formed lying in 'ln order to pivotally connect the adjacent edges ot adjacent screen sections together, it is necessary to bend the selvage loops from the plane of the body of the screen to a plane substantially pe'ifpendiculai`v thereto.

Prior to my invention the twisting of these selvage loops was performed by-liand, which required considerable ytime and was, therefore, an expensiveopei'ation.

The object of my invention is to provide a lmachine, which willjautomatically 'twist the elevation taken on the line tion of the invention will be fully disclosed hereinafter, reference being had to the accornpanying drawings, of which: y

Fig. l yis a plal l view of the machine made in accordance with the principles .ofjiny invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the machineili lustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a right side elevation o'fthemachine; l Fig. tis a left sideielev'ation of the chine;

F ig. 5 is a plan view partly in section, "certoi the purpose or" illustration; Y

Fig. 6 is a transverse taken on the line 6-6; Fi

tain portions of vthe machine being removed Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional elevation taken on the line 7*7, Fig. 6;

Fig.l 8 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional 8-(8, Fig.` 6;

.Fig 9 is van enlarged the loop-twisting heads; n

F'g. l0 'is a sectional elevation taken on the line 1.0;10, Fig. 9, and Isliowingftlie loopreceiving jaws in their open positions;

Fig. 1l is a sectional elevationsiinilar to Fig. l0, but showing the jaws in ac losedy poyFig. l2 is a sectional elevation taken on the line l2-12, Fig. 9; Y I l 1 I Figs. 13-to 17 inclusive are perspective views of certain details ot the twistinghead shown in Figs. 9 to l2; 4

Figs. 18 to 2l inclusive are sectional eleplan `view ofi one of i.

ens'fravngenisrmnnr, yor PrriLAiinLrrrrA, PENNsYLvANIA, Assignee, To snoepen OIF flADEL-FHLA. PENNSYLVANIA, v` CQREQRA- sectional elevation Y vation's illustrating various positions prcgres- L sively assumed by the feeding mechanismotI the machine;

Fig. 22 is a fragmentary plan view showingrshown in Fig. 24e, with .other associated eleelevation of the clampv pair of screen units chine comprises ments of the machine being shown in section Fig. 26 is a sectional elevation taken on the. line 26-26, Fig. 25;

Figs. 27V to 29 inclusive are perspective views of certain details of the structure shown in Figs. 24, and 26; Y

Fig.` is a fragmentary plan view of a pivotally united as in the formation ofa conveyer;

Fig. 31 is a'sectional elevation taken on the Y k34 1s provided line 31-`-31, Fig. 30, and

Fig. 32 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a portion of a conveyer showing the side links and the girts of the conveyer in broken lines and the said side links passing around a suitable sprocket.

vAs shown in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, the ma'- end frames 1 and 2 which are spaced apart and are rigidly connected by a top plate 3 and a lower brace or'shelf 4.

Secured to the end frame '2 by bolts 5, 5 is a plate 6. Pivoted to the plate 6 is an adjustable bracket 7 in which is adjustably mounted a stud 8. Rotatably mounted on the ion 15 meshes stud8 is a drive pulley 9. On the end of the hub 10 of the driving pulley 9 is a pinion 11 which'meshes with'the teeth of a gear wheel 12, which is secured to a shaft 13. The shaft Y 13 is 'rotatably mounted in hangers 14, 14,

which are secured to the under side of the top plate 3. Also secured to the shaft 13 is a pin-Y ion 15, a. hand wheel,and a collar.' The pinwith a gear wheelY 16 which is secured to a shaft 17 rotatably mounted in bearings 13 secured to the under side of the top lplate 3.

- The gear wheel 16 meshes with a gear wheel shaft 2O which vis rotatablyA upper surface of the topplate 3. T he gear 19 -meshes with a gear 22 which is secured to a shaft 23.V The shaft 23 is rotatably mounted in bearings 24, 24, securedjto the upper surface of the top plate 3.

On one of lthe ends of the shaft. 2O is an Veccentric 25. The eccentric 25 is encircled by an eccentric strap 26 which is provided with a lug 27 pivotally Yattached by a screw 23 to an arm 29 which is secured to a shaft 30. T he shaft 30is rotatably mounted in bearings 31,

31 rigidly secured to the upper side of the top` plate 3. On the opposite ends of the shaft 30 are secured gear segments 32' and 32 respectively. These gear segments respectively mesh with pinions 33 and r3325 rotatably mounted on spindles 34 and 34*1 of loop-twist-- ing heads 35 and 35a respectively. The spindles 34 and 34nof the twisting heads 35 and 35a respectively are rotatably mounted in brachets36, 36BM respectively-which are vsecured to the upper side of the top plate 3.

The construction andV operation of the twistinghea'ds 35 and 375a are similar, therefore, a description kof one will suiice for both.

- tending groove 51. -to receive the lip 43 formed'in lthe end of the projection 50 of the block v 46 is adapted to extend into the undercut 42 The construction of one of vthese twisting heads is shown in detail in Figs. 9fto 17 melusive. Y Y

rhe inner end of the spindle 34, or 34a as the case may be, is transversely slotted asY illustrated at 40. Extending longitudinally of the shaft 34 and connecting with the transverse slot is an elongated groove 41, whichk is formed in one side lof the said shaft or spindle 34. The slotted with an endof the spindle j undercut 42, which communicates with and is of the same width as the transverse of the spindle 34 produces a lip .43 in the end of the said spindle 34. 1n the base of the longitudinally extendinggroove 41 is formed spindle 34 opposite to Vthat in which the groove 41 is formed. The block 46 is provlded with a lug or extension 47 which constitutes the lower jaw proper.

Y, The end of the block 46, oppositelto that on which'the jaw 47 is formed, is provided with a pair of spaced .projections 49 and 50, between which is formed a transversely eX- The groove 51 is adapted spindle 34. The

slot 40. T he undercutting 41 adjacent the trans-V of the spindle 34, andthe projection 49 of the i block 46 is adapted to lit within the space formed by the c'urvedportion 48 of the base of the groove 41, sothat when the lower jaw element is in position within the end of the spindle 34 the top surface 52 of the block 46 bottom surface or baise 53 of the groove 41l andthe plane of the two surfaces will be substantially at the center of rotation of the spindle 34 as clearly-shown in Fig. 10. The lower aw element 45 is secured inn position within the end of the spindle 34 by means of a screw 54, which passes through an opening 55 formed in one side of the spindle 34, through an opening 56 formed inthe block 46,y and has a threaded en-d which extends intoand engages thethreads in an open-,

ing 57 formed in the opposite side of the spindle 34.

' The movable jaw 60 of each twisting head is in the form of a bell kcrank lever, the Vone arm 61 of which comprises the movable jaw y be substantially in alignment with the ilo ` t 65 rides in the 'a flange 76 is )rovided with a cam rise 7 8 which n kl groove 44 in the spindle 34, as clearly shown in F ig. 11, the said end also fitting within a slot 652-L formed in one end of a slide bar 66 which is slidably mounted lin the lgroove 41 formed y The link is provided with a notch 67 within which lies a pin 68 carried by the slide bar 66, constituting the means by which the link 65 is pivotally connected to the slide bar 66. f The opposite end of the slide bar 66 is provided with a pin 69 on which is rotatably mounted a sleeve or roller 70. The roller 70 rides in a cam groove 71 formed in the hub 72 of the pinion 33, said cam groove being zenclosed by a sleeve 73 fitting over the hub 72 and the said pinion 33.

Secured to the spindle'34 by a pin 74is a sleeve or collar 75 whiehis provided with Vflanges 76 and`7 7 at its respective ends. The

is adapted to engage a cam roller 7 9 rotatably mounted on the bracket 36 in which the spindle 34 is rotatably mounted. v

Encircling the sleeve 75 between the flanges 476 and 77 is a split collar 80, comprising a lower portion 81 and an upper portion 82, each of which are provided with laterally extending lugs 83 adapted to receive adjusting or tightening screws 84, 84, as clearly shown 3o in Fig. 12.

Intermediate the split collar .and the sleeve 75 is a band of friction material 85, the ends 86 of which are anchored between one pair ofthe oppositely disposed lugsr83, 83 of the split collar 80. n

.The lower portion 81Vof the split collar 80 is provided with a dependingprojection 87 which is 'engaged by a rigid arm 88 extending laterally from the'bracket 36, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. By this means the split colt lar 80 and the brake lining 85 thereof are prevented from turning. l

Pivotally mounted in bearings 90, 90, which are secured tothe upper side of the top plate 3, is a rock shaft 91 which is provided with a pair of spaced-arms 92, 92 which are slotted at 93 to adjustably support pivot-pins 94, 9 4, on which arelpivot'allymounted armsl 95, 95, respectively- The outer endsof the arms 95, 95 are connected by a feed bar 96,

as clearly shownin Figs. 5, 7 and 18v to'21 inclusive.

Secured to the rock'shaftQl is arm 97 on the'outer end of which'is rotatably mounted a roller or cam follower 9,8, which isa'dapted to engage a cam 99 secured tothe shaft 20.y

Also'securedV tothe rock shaft 91 isan arm 100'.V v i To 'the outer end of the? arm100 Vis secured one' end of the springI 101, the opposite end ofivhichv is secured to an adjusting screw 102 carriedby a bracket 103 secured to thetop plate 3. "The spring 101" maintains the cam roller 9 8'fof the arm '97' in vcontact vwith the cam; 99 at' all-times.

in the spindle 34.

Y, brackets 36, 36a

gitudinal or fmati'cally twist these loops v secured lto a pin 107 which extends laterally from one of in Fig. 6.. n

' Supported above the top plate 3 'onv the e and brackets 108, 108, is a table 110 which isprovided with spaced grooves 111', 111 yas clearly shown in Fig. l. Secured to and front and rear edges, respectively, of the table 110 are extensions 112 and 113,- which are respectively provided withV side flanges 114 and 115. l

Secured to the table 110is a pair of blocks 116, 116 which are connected by a bridge element 117. Also secured in the blocks 116, 116 vand extending therebetween is a rod 118 on which are pivotally mounted arms 119, 119 of a clamp head 120. The outer ends of the arms 119, 119 are connected by afbar 121, to which is rigidly secured a clamp plate 122. Secured to the clamp plate 122 is a suitable weight 123.

Pivotally mounted at 124 to the weight 123 is a latch 125, one end 126 of which is adapted to be extended under one endv of a flat spring 127, the oppositeend of which `is rigidly secured to the bridge element 117 by bolts 12s, 12s. t y Alsoisecuredto the bridge element 117 by the bolts 128'is a second 'flat spring 129, the free end of which engages the springl27 adjacent the end 126, as clearly shown in Fig. 7 n Y As clearly shown in Fig. 22, the screen strip X comprises al pluralityy of parallel lonwarp wires m and a plurality of transverse or weft wires x1. VVAs shown in said figure', the weft wires x1 are composed of a single wire passing back and forth at right the brackets 24, as clearly shown of the latch the under lside of` engage ca1ns105, 105 secured angles tothe warp wires m,the said wire-being interwoven with the warp wires .fr in the-usual manner. The passing ofthe weft'wire back and forth across the warp wires in the weaving ofthe wire mesh screen-produces'loops y, g/l at the opposite edges ofthe body of the screen These loops i, y1 lie in substantially the same plane as the body of the screen X, and the object of this invention is toauto- V,f 371V Vfrom the plane of the body'of the screen X to a substantially perpendicular thereto.

`ne 'i irse plane In they operation of the machine one endl' of a strip of weven screen Xis placed on the extension 112 of the table 110 between the thereof, the clamp head,l

side flangeslll, 114 having been moved to the broliienv line position illustrated in 'Fig'. 7 The end of the stripV of-woven screen Xis then advanced Y along theft'ablefl-l'O to a position overal slet isole' Y its `its pivot 118 from its brokenline shown in Figf in said figure, the latch 125 being turned on a manner that the end l stationary jaw tric Y 13() 'formed in the table 110, in which the `feed bar 96 is adapted-to operate.

The clamp head 120 is then swung about position to its full line position shown pivot 124 in such 126 ofssaid latch will pass -to one side'of and `below the spring 127', whereupon the latchalignment with the spring 127,

1x2-5 is turned to a position substantially in `with tlieend 126 of said lat-ch in Aengagement with the under side of said spring. r1`he strip oit material X-.is thereby clamped down firmly Vagainst lthe upper surface ot the t able 110.v lt will be understood that the movable jaws 60 of the twisting heads, 35 and 35a, respectively, will be in the open position as shown in Figs. 6 and 10.

y As shown in Figs. 10 and 16, the lower or 45 oteach twisting head is provided with a pin per or movable jaws 60 of each twisting head is provided with a slot-160 which` when in the closed position illustrated in Fig. .11,is

adaptedto iit over and around the pin 145` Y of the corresponding stationary jaw 45. In positioning the Wire mesh screen in the machine at the start of the operation one oi the loops y1 at one edge of theV strip X isplaced around the pin 45u of the twisting head 35a, and one of the loops y at the opposite side of the strip X is placed around the pin 145 or' the twisting head 35.

, As shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 18 to 21 inclusive .the feeding bar 96 isprovided with pins 196 on its'upper surface .which are adapted to enterftlie/ineshes of' the strip ot iviie` mesh screen. Y Y

- After thescreen strip X has been'placed in position and the clamp head 120 moved to its clamping position, power is applied to the drive pulley 9 which, through Vthe train ot gears above described, causes ay rotation of the shafts 2O and 23; Rotation of the shaft 2O causes a corresponding rotation carried tlier,e'by,-which,y through the eccentric strap 26and arin 29, effectsY a rocking motion or oscillation of theY shaft 30.

Oscillation of the shaft 30 elilect's a reciprocationof the gear segments 32 and 32a which causes av corresponding oscillation `of the .pinions-j 33,33a of the twisting heads 35 and 35arespectively.V

. -Reterring to Figs.` 6 and 10, the initial j i movement o the pinion in the Vdirection o'the arrow e will cause the cam'grooye the-hublot the pinion to engage one side ol i the roller -7 O of Ythe slide bar,66 and thereby f the spindle.

inovethe said slide bar 66 longitudinally oli' 7 Figs. 9 and 10 to the position shown in'Fig.

Y' as 11', itf being understood that rotation of the spindlelr 3711- at this time is prevented Vby the brake comprising the split collar 80, thebiake 145 and each or the up ot the eccen-V 'i Ytion to that above noted..

71 inV troni the position shown iny lining 85, depending projection 87, and the auchornig bracket 88.

This initial rotation of the pinions 33, 33t.

and the longitudinal movement ol the slide I vbars 66, 66 eiiccted thcrehy causes the movable jaws and 45"ot the said respective twisting l heads, between the co-operating movable and stationary jaws ot the respective twistingheads. j

Continued rotation of the piiiions 33, 33a after the jaws and 66k have been closed, causes a substantially ninety degree rotation oic the spindles and the jaws carried thereby, which twists the loops 1 1/ and y1 troni the horizontal plane shown in Figs. 9, 10 and 22 toa vertical plane, as shown in said Figsl) andQ. i Duri-ng this partial rotation oit the-spindles 34, 34` the cani rises 78, 785 formed, on the sleeves 75, a respectively, which rotate with the spindles 34, 34a engage the cani rollers-79,- 79, which are rotatably mounted on the fixed brackets 36, 36a. Y Q Y Engagement of the cani rise 78 with the corresponding roller '79 effects an axial movement of the spindle 34 and this in turn causes the pin .145 to pull against the end ot the loop withrwhich it is engaged. This movement pulls the curved 'end ot the loop into the proper position Yto receive .the connecting wir by which adjacent screen units are pivot-ally attached to each other. i Continued rotation of the shaft 2O causes a movement of the segments 32, 32a in an op# posite direction to that' previously noted,l which causes the pinions`33, 33a` torotate infin oppositedirection from that just described.-

Due to the retarding action of the brake on'` each spindle 34, 34a and to the lost motion` provided between the pinions Y33, 33a and their spindles 34, 34a the initial movement-oi: the `pinion 33, 33a thereon will, throughl the cam groovesg' 1 androllers 70, effect a move# ment of the slide bars 66 in an opposite directheY slide vbars This reverse movement o 66 will, through the links 65,V cause the movable aws 60, 60ste be turned about their pivrkots from their closed position to their open, position. i

It will be noted that'at'tliis tiinetlie spin-* dles 34 are still-in such position that-the pins .145, 145*l are in aV horizontal positionV pointing toward the staf'ionary aws 45 which is nearest the back end of the machine and that the movable jaws 60 and 6()a are open-to such/an extentV 1 j j l y the back of the niachinefand that the twisted loops lie against the iacezot .A Y

of screen toward the back of the machine will carry the twistedloops olf of the pins 145, iisZL f This advancing movement of the strip is edected by the feed bar 96 which, as shown in Fig. 19, is raised by the cams 105 'engaging the rollers V104 `on the arms 95. lRaising of the 'bar 96 causes the pins 196 on the Vupper side thereof to enter the meshes ofthe screen material. he shaft 91 is then .rocked about its center by the cam 99, on the shaft 20, engaging the roller 98 on the arm 97 of the shaft91. Y ,l

Oscillation of the shaft 91 causes a corresponding oscillation of the arms 92 which more the arms 95 and the feed bar 96 carried thereby toward the rear of the machine.

As soon as the twisted loops g/ andl g/l are clear of the pins 145, 145n the continued rotation of the pinions 33, 33a causes the spindles 34,341L to be rotated in a reverse direction, which carries the pins 145 and 145a from their horizontal loop-releasing positions to their vertical or loop-receiving positions,j and as the feed bar 96 moves thescreen material rearwardly the said bar 96 is'` raised by the cams to such a position that a fresh pair of horizontally disposed loops y and y1-'are carried above the plane of the pointsof the pins 145 and v145a andto a position directly above said pins, as shown in Fig. 21.

Continued rotation of the cams 105 causes the feed bar 96 to be lowered from the position shown in Fig. 21 to that shown in Fig. 13, which lowers the Lmtwisted loops jy and y/l entothe fixed aws 4'5and 45a of the'twisting headsv and 35v respectively, lfor a repeat of the cycle of operations just described. c

Obviously continued rotation of vthe cam 99"tv'ill 'elf-ect atreverse movement-of Vthe feed bar 96 toward the frontof the machine, below theplane of the wire mesh screen, for the puf-1'.;l

pose of obtaining a new ieri-a1.

In passing to the'ie'ar of ythe machine the vertically disposed loops g/ and y1 pass oif throughthe grooves 111, 111formed inthe `ri L) onthe said hia- .l f

top ofthe table 110.

spaced, the

Y portion 1321 Upon referring to that'v the spindles 34,34a of' the .twisting heads 35,35? respectivelyI are noty in directv alignment with each otherbut are horizontally to effect the proper ymeshing of the Vteeth of the gear seginentz32a with the teeth of the pinion 33?" of the twisting head 35i the arm 132 ofthe segment 32L of two parts, 1321and 132b grooved block 133 is securedto the portion 132a ofsaid arm by'a bolt y'134. The portion'132b of the arm 132 is slotted at 135 for the reception of the bolt 136, by which the mined lengths,

rig. aaa in be noa-dv distance equal to the space be` tween two of the vweft wires handin order upper jaw 260.

Ament 271 'is enc (see Figv 4) is formed I respectively A' kis rigidly secured'tothe bloclr 1 After the loops y and y1 of a strip X of screen material have been twisted from their horizontal plane to the vertical plane, as above noted, the strip isl cut into predeterforming units X1. These units X1 are then placed on and secured in the sidelinks ofthe conveyer chains'as above noted, and, as shown in Fig. 32, with the twisted loops y1 of one uni-t lying immediately adjacent the twisted loops g/ of the adjacent unit, as clearly shown in -F ig. 30. A connecting wire X2 is then passed through the aligned openings of the loops y, glas clearly shown in Fig. 31. These connecting` wires X2 are positioned inyaxial alignment with the pintles of the side chains of the conveyer, thereby permitting the conveyer to readily pass around the supporting sprockets as clearly shown in Fig. 32.

During the normaloperation of the machine the clamping head 1201's at all times held down by the spring feed bar 96 is Vraised to carry the new loops into position above the pins 145, 1456, yields sufficiently to permit of this operation.

rlhe clamp plateV 122 is provided with grooves 122a which accommodate the pins 196 of the feed bar 96 and permit the same to movev with respect to the clamp plate 122v and at the same time maintain a firm grip onA the strip of screen material X.

if it be desired to operate the "clamp head by hand the latch y125 is'n'ioved t'o the position illustrated in Fig. 23, wherein thev end 126 of said latch lies on theup'per surface of the spring 127, at which time 'the spring'129 assists in the support of the said clamp head 120 and yields when lpressure isy applied to bring the kclamphead down' hpon the top of the strip X of the material.`

ln Figs. 24 to29 inclusive, l have illustrated a modified form ofi twisting head which comprises a spindle`234 having a Ylongitudinally extending 'groove 241 '.'orn'f'iedf therein, in which is slidably mounted va slide bar 266. The slide bar 266 is provided with a depending step 267, which-iis adapted to receive a projection 263 offa loop-twistingelement 270. Y f l j Y l In this form of the invention thetw'isting yelement v270 is in the formof a cylinder 271 havinga transversely extending sl'ot272 formed therein,' which divides the u element 271 into a lower jawv245 and, anV

The Icylindrical twistinggelefcled by a ysleeve 273which closes the ends of the slot 272.

127 which,`when the l ila twisting y To the rear of the cylindrical portion V271 l of the twisting piece 270 and formed integral therewith lis a sided portion 274 which, together with the depending step '267 of the slide bar 266, is adaptedto transverse slot 240 formed inthe spindle 234.

This transverse slot 240 communicates with 'i the groovef241 formed lin the said spindle; j

slide within a Y 

